History

Like most not-for-profit electric cooperatives you'll find across America, Corn Belt Energy was founded in the late 1930's to electrify rural areas that investor-owned utilities refused to serve. At this time in American history, 90% of urban dwellers enjoyed the conveniences of electricity while only 10% of rural residents had access to power lines. President Franklin Roosevelt created the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) by executive order in 1935, which would provide needed financing and resources for electric co-ops to get started.

On Sept. 12, 1938, the McLean County Farm Bureau Board of Directors approved an REA project to bring electricity to the farmers of the area. Following numerous meetings to formulate the cooperative structure, acquire right-of-way, hire staff and secure a $1,164,000 REA loan to build 1,146 miles of distribution line, “Corn Belt Electric Cooperative” employees placed the first pole on April 10, 1939, and strung the first wire on May 4. By August of that year, the first 100 miles of line were energized northwest of Kappa and 200 farms were electrified in McLean and Woodford counties.

As the cooperative grew, it became a key part of the Bloomington business community. The first office was located at 508 N. Main Street, then shifted to the old Farm Bureau Building at 109 W. Monroe. In 1943, the co-op offices moved to 315 E. Front Street. In 1954, Corn Belt Electric moved to 1502 Morrissey Drive, Bloomington, where office, administration and support facilities were located.

On January 1, 1999, Corn Belt Electric Cooperative (serving 10 counties) merged with Illinois Valley Electric Cooperative of Princeton (serving eight counties). The merger created a new organization known as Corn Belt Energy Corporation. In January 2002, we built a new headquarters facility at Downs Crossing, approximately five miles southeast of Bloomington, located at the intersection of US Highway 150 and Towanda Barnes Rd.

In the past 70+ years, our membership base has changed dramatically from primarily farmers to an ever-increasing number of urban, suburban and commercial accounts. While retaining our rural farm heritage, we now serve many of the new residential subdivisions and commercial areas in Bloomington-Normal and other communities. While we accomplished our original goal of bringing electricity to rural areas, we're now faced with a new challenge: helping cooperative members use energy wisely. We're also proud to support the communities we serve, including our Education Grants Program and our participation in the national Youth to Washington Tour.